Public employees vow united effort to fight benefit cuts
Tuesday, Aug. 9
What happened: Michigan’s five state employee unions want to negotiate one universal contract on wages, benefits and cost savings when they hammer out new multi-year agreements.

Why it matters: Snyder’s 2012 budget assumes $145 million in concessions. While labor leaders say he appears interested in their ideas, the real battle could come down to wage concessions or layoffs. If so, “It’s going to be one tough set of negotiations.” said Phil Thompson of Service Employees International Union Local 517M,

Snyder signs new redistricting plans into law
Tuesday, Aug. 9

What happened: Snyder signs into law new political maps for Michigan, redrawn by Republicans without Democratic interference. The GOP now has a 61-49 advantage in the state House, a 23-15 edge in the Senate, and a 9-5 advantage in Michigan’s delegation to Congress, according to analyst Bill Ballenger,

State Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer said Snyder approved “politically and racially gerrymandered maps” and “broke his promise to voters that he would be a moderate and bipartisan governor.”
Why it matters: On the most partisan of issues, redistricting, Snyder didn’t have to compromise because for the second straight decennial redistricting process the GOP was able to steamroll the other party. Republicans are now in position to control the Legislature through the decade. But as the last decade proved, it doesn’t mean they will.

What happened: Law enforcement officials and lawmakers vow a fall push to place more clarity and restrictions in the 2008 voter-approved medical marijuana law.

Attorney General Bill Schuette says the law is intentionally vague, allowing profit-oriented dispensaries to sell to customers who obtain online certificates. Dozens have opened along Michigan Avenue east of the Capitol.

“We need to bring this law back into line to what voters intended,” Schuette said. Bills would require a “bona fide” physician-patient relationship, in-person physical exams, notification of applicants’ primary doctors, and other measures.

Why it matters: Critics say the law was filled with loopholes to essentially legalize the drug. The question is whether reforms can pass the Legislature. Because the law was approved through a petition drive, amending it requires a three-fourths vote.

Supreme Court briefs filed on pension tax legality
Wednesday, Aug. 10

What happened: Attorney General Bill Schuette’s office, AARP Michigan, and public employee retiree groups all file arguments with the state Supreme Court on the constitutionality of Snyder’s tax overhaul.

Mary Pollack of the State Employees Retirees Association said the constitution prohibits reducing a vested pension benefit. Taxing the pension of a retired forester, teacher or municipal firefighter “is illegal. Not only is it illegal, it’s unfair.”

The court ordered the attorney general’s office to submit briefs exploring both sides. One brief agreed the constitution is designed to “guarantee” a specific level of benefits for work already performed. The counter brief argues there is nothing “that even implies public pensioners are forever free from having to pay for state services.”

Why it matters: If the court exempts public pensions, it would cost the state about $120 million, and Snyder and lawmakers would have to justify taxing private pension. If they couldn’t, the total tax loss would exceed $340 million.